The Ministry of Education takes acoustic performance of teaching spaces seriously as there is irrefutable evidence that poor room acoustics negatively impact student learning outcomes, speech comprehension and behavioural wellbeing.

With this in mind, the government in 2020 set mandatory acoustic requirements for all new and refurbished teaching spaces as set out in the Designing Quality Learning Spaces – Acoustics, DQLS 3.0.

This standard sets out the requirement for balanced reverberation times, particularly between the important 500 to 2000 Hz frequency range.

Asona Ltd as a New Zealand manufacturer of acoustic panels took up the challenge to create a cost-effective high performance acoustic ceiling panel that would meet the DQLS 3.0 and solve the acoustic challenges present in so many NZ schools.

Called Triton Cloud 50 VG, the panels are pre-engineered and prefinished with a range of fixing accessories that can be installed right from the box. Manufactured at Asona’s Auckland factory, the Triton Cloud 50 VG acoustic ceiling panels are ideal for upgrade of existing or new classrooms. They are fast to install without adhesives, and fit between ceiling mounted mechanical and electrical services, saving big costs in time, labour, and materials.

What’s more, the Triton Cloud 50 VG was selected for the Ngā iti Kahurangi small and remote schools upgrade program in 2021 and over 250 schools have now benefited from better room acoustics this product provides.